10-4 Magazine December 2024

66 10-4 Magazine / December 2024 floor redone and get it repainted, but one thing is for sure, it will stay as original as he can possibly keep it. You may have noticed the photo of Klayton and a Kansas State Trooper, which was something Klayton had been wanting to do, or rather, recreate. Based on the cover of the Jerry Reed song “East Bound and Down” that most know, Klayton and State Trooper Micah Polson, a friend Klayton met back when he was running an oversized load and needed some help with being escorted, not only were we able to recreate that image, but I was able to capture general interactions between these two men, which is the usual professionalism they would normally have, and many other drivers and troopers also have. It is very unfortunate that these interactions are many times portrayed poorly within the trucking industry, and not enough light is shed on the positive interactions. Special thanks from Klayton to Lyndi who is his rock, the love of his life, and the very glue that holds their family together. He said it takes a special kind of person to be married to a trucker and admittedly said it isn’t a fair life for her, but she supports him completely, and he couldn’t imagine doing life without her. Thanks to Mike Burks, who is one of his best friends, and someone he can always count on, to his parents, Kurt and Beth, who have always supported him, and to Tim and Kenton (his uncle and cousin) for giving him amazing experiences and helping to mold him into the man and driver he is today. Also, thank you to all of his friends and other family who have plenty of important roles in his life, both in business and personal. A big shout out from Klayton to those who have been involved in some way with his truck including Twisted Metal Polishing out of Great Bend, KS, Bryce Peterson of BCP Polishing out of Elk City, KS for the polishing right before I came out to photograph, Heavy Duty Diesel owner Jerod Birzer out of Great Bend, KS who did the engine swap himself for Klayton, and Advance Truck and Diesel out of Great Bend, KS for the mechanic work they perform. Thank you to Klayton and Lyndi for the time well spent, although brief, there was never a shortage of things to talk about. Thank you also for the opportunity to hear about your lives and the honor of telling some of your story. Also, big thanks to my friend Trevin Walck, who definitely came through with suggestions of good quality people to do articles on. Thank you to Klayton’s cousin Kenton for permission to take photos in one of the fields he rents, and to Trooper Micah Polson for his time. We all have things or events that have shaped us into the people we are today. Childhood memories were the inspiration for Klayton buying this cabover, and I can’t think of a better reason. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n